Tag: video

Rentals

Posted on by Big City

 

Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
Please call to check availability – 416 894 4025

located at:

2370 Midland Ave – UNIT B9
Toronto, ON, M1S 5C6

Pricing is based on self pick up and return to our location.
Prices DO NOT include taxes, set up, delivery or return pick up.
If you require any of these services, please Contact Us for a quote.

All rentals are based on a 24 hour period or portion thereof,  ask us about our weekend rates!

 

Big City Lights is a lighting company that offers services for the film industry, photographers, events, stage shows and parties. We do both sales and rentals. We offer self serve pick up from our location, or we can deliver and/or offer set up in and around the GTA including Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, Markham, Thornhill, Vaughn, East York, Ajax, Pickering, Brampton, Oakville, Oshawa, Mississauga and more! Contact us for a quote.

We have been in the lighting business for over 15  years, and we offer great customer service in Toronto and the GTA.  Big City Lights works with event planners, filmmakers, photographers, video production companies, DJs, churches, synagogues and other places of worship to create the perfect lighting for your special event, concert, film shoot, photography shoot, party or stage show.  We  currently serve the areas of Scarborough, Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, North York, Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughn, Thornhill,  East York, Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa and Oakville and more!  Contact us today for your wedding lighting, event lights or party lighting!

 

 

affordable rental of lighting and AV equipment in Toronto Canada. We have a large selection of rental lights rental film lighting LED lighting and audio visual equipment. Based in Toronto Canada and we sell to all of Canada and the USA. Video equipment and lights for all events and parties stage shows and concerts we even rent ring lights!

RGB Sexi Flexi flex panel Canada light lighting film

RGB Sexi-Flexi

Posted on by Jane Good

Introducing the RGB Sexi-Flexi flex light! A new product with a wide range of special effects and capabilities.

The video below highlights the important and useful aspects of a flex panel. It focuses on the durability and pliability of a flex panel, as well as how efficient they are in any environment.

The new RGB flex light model Big City Lights is offering has great energy efficiency with a colour temperature ranging from 2700K to 9999K. As well as a hard carrying case with the essential equipment, such as: a power adapter, cross frame holder, diffusion silk, control box, and a 90˚ light stand.

There are also many special effects with this model beyond the original Bi-Colour, including but not limited to:

  • Lighting mode
  • Police car mode
  • Emergency mode
  • TV mode
  • Strobe lights (green, red, white, blue)
  • Nightclub mode

And much more.

Check out the video for more details regarding the RGB Sexi-Flexi.

Time Lapse Canada Slider Timer Toronto Scarborough Markham Ajax Pickering Oshawa Hamilton Barrie Etobicoke Markham Ajax Richmond Hill Vaughan North York Ottawa

Great Examples of Time Lapse using The Big City Lights Rotating Timer

Posted on by Kyle Spencer

Doing a Timelapse is a Phenomenal type of videography that literally turns hours of time into a seconds. If its a construction project, a sunset or even city traffic, it will make art of what you cant see in real time. This is a handy tool to show the passage of time.

Timelapse’s take an extreme level of patience and delicateness to pull off, it involves taking a series of images at a pace of around once every 5 seconds over a long period of time and then playing it back at 24 – 30 frames a second, making a smooth motion clip. For example, at the rate of one picture every 5 seconds, you would need to wait around 30 minutes to get a clip of 10 seconds long playing at 30 frames per second, but if you have the time, it really worth giving a shot.

HERE ARE SOME HANDY TIPS ON HOW TO CREATE A GREAT TIMELAPSE:

Make sure to use a tripod or a stable surface so the camera doesn’t move.
Fast scenes (traffic, people) work best with 1 to 3 seconds between shots. Slower ones (sunsets, shadows) can use between 5 to 10 seconds.
Switch to manual exposure so the lighting stays consistent between shots.
Try mounting your camera on a small motorised rotating timer or slider. this will add a dynamic movement to your timelapse. (Big City Lights sells Rotating Timers and Sliders- We have links to them below.)
If your camera does not have a time-lapse ability, you can use a editing software or a time-lapse app to stitch the photos into a video, then adjust the speed to your liking.

ADD MOTION TO YOUR TIMELAPSE WITH EITHER A ROTATING TIMER or a SLIDER:

Lets take a quick look at the 3 products that we carry:

You can make your time-lapse more dynamic and add motion as well as depth by using a rotating timer or slider. First up lets look at our 360 Degree Timer. This product is ideal for doing panoramas. It comes with adjustable time markers showing the 5, 10, 15 all the way up to 60 minute marks helping the user set exactly how long they want the time lapse to be as well as the degree of the panorama. (45, 90, 180 or 360º or anywhere in between.)

Now lets look at our sliders, Big City offers 2 different motorised sliders. They can both be programmed for use using your smartphone. They both have an X-axis which can be used to add slow dolly or truck movements and our deluxe model also has a Y-axis so you can pan at the same time.

All of these are very easy to use, all you have to do is attach your camera to one of these units, set your camera and timer settings and you are ready to go.

OTHER WAYS OF SHOOTING A TIMELAPSE:

Phones have come a long way. iPhones and Androids both have timelapse modes now, and they automatically handle all the timing, exposure, and blending for you. You don’t have to know anything. its  just hit record and wait.

The downside is that you don’t get much control over the final look. But for casual videos or short clips for social media, phone timelapses are surprisingly good.

GoPros and other action cams have built-in timelapse modes that make it easy. You just choose “timelapse video,” set the interval (like 1 photo every 4 seconds),  and it spits out a watchable clip.

They’re not as sharp as say a Sony or Nikon, but they’re great for movement, like driving, travel or city shots. You can also mount them anywhere.

 

360 Degree Panning Rotating Panorama Time Lapse Timer

Big City Model 100 – Single Axis Motorized Slider with Smart Phone Control

Big City Model 200 – Dual Axis Motorized Slider with Smart Phone Control

LED PAR Uplights Canada RGB RGBW

Video Comparison of all the LED PAR Lights offered by Big City Lights

Posted on by Tristan

This video will go over the differences between all of Big City Lights wide range of LED PAR lights.

PAR lights (sometimes called up lights) are one of the most popular lights to use when it comes to parties and stage shows! You have probably seen these lights at least a few times when going out for an event or concert.

Here at Big City we have 6 different levels of powered parr lights, more the power or “watts”, means brighter the light.

These lights from lowest power to brightest power are: a 40 watt, 84 watt, 90 watt, a battery powered 72 watt, The Ultra 270 watt, and finally our outdoor 270 watt light.

So what else is the difference between these models? Let’s go through them all

Beginning with the 40w spotlight, it can produce most (but not all) colours with its individual Red Green Blue L.E.D. lights.

The 84 watt model, 90 watt model, and the Ultra 270 watt model, and the outdoor 270 watt model all have RGBW “four in one” LEDs. Four in one means that each LED can produce Red Green Blue and White or any combination thereof, allowing you to have a much wider range of colours, including a true white.

Finally,the wireless 72 watt model light comes with ‘six in one” LEDs. The six built in colours are Red, Green, Blue, white, amber, and UV which is also known as ultraviolet black light. This allows the widest range of colours possible.

So what are some other features?

The wireless 72 watt model is different from other models, since it runs off of it’s own built in rechargeable battery.

The outdoor 270w model has a waterproof IP65 design, so it can be reliably used indoors or outdoors!

Both the 84w model and battery operated 72w model also come with a remote control for easy operation.

All of these lights come with the ability for sound control so that your lighting can be synced to go to the music. They all also have DMX in and out meaning that you’ll be able to connect your lights to a lighting control board for bigger set ups.

Finally, all of the lights (with the exception of the 40w and the 90w models) have a power in, as well as a power out, meaning that multiple lights can be chained together for power. This is handy when you only have a limited amount of power outlets.

You can see links to all the products featured in this video below. We ship anywhere in Canada or the USA.

The 40w LED PAR

The 84w LED PAR 

The 90w LED PAR

The Ultra 270w LED PAR

Wireless Battery Operated LED PAR

The High Powered Indoor/Outdoor LED PAR

 

 

 

 

teleprompter Canada video film production

The Benefits of a Teleprompter

Posted on by Jane Good

Interested in creating film content with efficiency that makes presenting look natural? Well, Big City Lights is offering a device just for that. Specifically, an affordable 16” teleprompter ideal for tablets that includes a travel case, a remote control and software. It is easy to use and works for any heavy duty tripod. Tripod and tablet are not included.

The video below shows the benefits of a teleprompter, as well as the assembly process. Take a look and find out all you need to know about a teleprompter.

Battery Operated Lighting Options

Posted on by George Mikhaiel

Calling all filmmakers, photographers, hairstylists and party starters! Have you ever needed a wireless light to brighten a subject? To light a party? Well we have the products for you. This video showcases various options for battery operated lights to suit any of your needs. These lights are perfect for when you don’t have an outlet near by, or for on the go shootings. All the links for the battery operated lights we carry are available below.

Links:

Continue reading “Battery Operated Lighting Options” →

light lights lighting cob led bi-color bowens bowen mount battery bright controller color colour 80w 120w

Comparison of the 80w & 120w LED Bi-Colour COB Lights

Posted on by Tristan

120w COB LED LIGHT PHOTO VIDEO BOWENS

Achieving the right brightness and temperature has never been more easy and affordable! Benefits of having this light are the customization and control for the perfect lighting. A film can feel off putting without the use of one of these lights due the wrong modifier or color temperature.

What an COB light is:

 Both lights use a COB light which stands for Chip On Board, which is a single LED aside from using many smaller LEDs. This significantly reduces energy consumption while also having high brightness and color accuracy.

An intuitive, compact and fashionable design: 

 Weighing in at just under one kilogram, these lights are very lightweight due to their compact design making it ideal for in-studio or on location. Both lights come with their very own carrying bag making it easy for travel.

10 – 100% brightness:

 These lights achieve the exact brightness with pinpoint accuracy. There is a wheel to the side of the light that can be adjusted from 10% to 100% or anywhere in between with the turn of a dial to give you the exact brightness that you need.

Color temperature: 3000K-6500K +/- 200K:

 These lights not only have an accurate brightness, but also very accurate color temperature control. The wrong color temperature can feel awkward with cool and warm temperatures mixing. If a set has a cool light setting and needs more, it should be met with more cool temperature lighting instead of warm temperature. This would match the room while also making the lighting appear more natural and balanced. This may not appear so different to our eyes, but is very different to a camera. With a temperature scale from 3000K also known as Kelvin to 6500k, the right type of lighting will always be able to match the scene while also being able to change the mood of a scene.

Intelligent cooling ensures safe and consistent use: 

 Both lights have an intelligent cooling system which ensures that the light remains cool and reinforces the longevity of the light. It uses a heatsink which is completely silent and casually cools down the system without using any extra power.

Includes 2.4G remote control, control up to 50M (150 ft) and LCD screen at the side: 

If the light needs to be adjusted from a distance it comes with a wireless remote control. While reaching up to 50M (150 ft) away, It changes the settings including the temperature and brightness of the light. Connecting both the controller and light is as easy as setting both to the same channel. The updated settings can be viewed on the screen on the controller or to the side of the lights.

The difference between the 80w and 120w light:

 So what is the difference between these two lights? Well, both of these fantastic lights can run on batteries which means they aren’t restricted to an outlet. However, the 80w light runs on Dual NP-F series batteries where as the 120w light runs on Sony V lock style batteries. 

The second difference is obviously the power. The 120w light will have approximately 25% more light output than its brother!

Special scenario lighting:

These lights also have the ability to produce flashes imitating specific lighting patterns and scenarios. The 6 custom light settings include: Paparazzi, firework, bad bulbs, thunder flash, television, and SOS. They are designed to enhance your work and save time creating complex lighting scenarios.

Includes standard reflector: 

 Both lights also come with a free reflector if a more narrow beam is needed. It slightly modifies the light to a more narrow beam, if you would like an even tighter beam, you can add a 10˚ 30˚ or 60˚ grid spot.

 In conclusion, these two lights are very simple and easy to operate. They are both portable, easy to use, have a bowens mount, and both come with a FREE 7 inch reflector and travel bag. Overall, these lights are a must have for your film and video production. They offer great versatility, high power, and flexibility at a reasonable price!

Here is a demonstration video of both lights!

 

You can buy these lights here:

 

80w LED COB:

80w LED Bi-Colour COB Light with Bowens Mount

 

120w LED COB:

120w LED Bi-Colour COB Light with Bowens Mount

smoke grenade bomb wedding photo video Toronto

How to Use Smoke Bombs for Amazing Wedding or Event Photos

Posted on by Big City

Here comes the smoke show! We love a good smoke bomb photo and according to the reaction to this photo:

smoke grenade bomb wedding photography video Toronto

We aren’t the only ones. Whether you use them for engagement photos, as a fun getaway, or just set them off to add some colour to your portraits, the effect is undeniable. We always get questions about smoke bombs and how they work, so let’s cover the basics!

Do smoke bombs stain?

Yes, they can if you are too close. Set them off in the distance and get some help from an assistant or friend. After setting the smoke bomb down, if you are 2-3 feet away and just standing in the smoke cloud, it should NOT stain your clothing or anything for that matter.

How long do smoke bombs last?

You’ll want to be photo-ready—they last about 90 seconds! And once you pull the trigger, it takes up to 10 seconds to fully release.

Can you use smoke bombs at night?

Yes! In fact, the effect can be REALLY cool. Just make sure you have some good backlighting to capture the mood.

Are smoke bombs safe?

Definitely be aware of high winds (if there are high winds you won’t want to use them) and inhaling the smoke. You should also consider crowds ,you should be in an open area outdoors.

How should I plan with my photographer?

See if your photographer has worked with smoke bombs before! There are a few tricks of the trade and ideas they may have to capture that perfect shot. You can even do a few practice rounds before lighting the plumes! If you have any photos for inspiration (ahem, plenty of which are below!), be sure to send those over ahead of time.

Can you use smoke bombs in public?

Smoke bombs are considered a firework and therefore are banned in many local and national parks. This might also apply to your venue, so do research in advance to make sure you are allowed to use them for your photos. By the way, this also means you can’t fly with smoke bombs in your luggage!

Below we sell wire pull smoke bombs (you don’t need to light anything, just pull the wire) and they burn cool, not hot. Plus these smoke bombs were made for smoke bomb photographers! And the part we love? These smoke bombs are non-toxic smoke with a fully biodegradable body.

gender reveal smoke grenade bomb wedding photo video Toronto Scarborough Markham Etobicoke Richmond Hill Ajax Pickering Oshawa

You can also use smoke bombs for gender reveal parties!

We have them in both pink and Blue and are packaged discreetly so you don’t know the colour until you pull the tab!


SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW!
https://bigcity.store/product/eg-wp40-side-pull-smoke-grenade/

90 Second Gender Reveal Smoke Grenade (Smoke Bomb)

Gender Reveal Confetti Cannon

 

smoke grenade bomb wedding photography video Toronto

smoke grenade bomb wedding photo video Toronto

smoke grenade bomb wedding photography video Toronto

blue smoke bomb grenade gender reveal boy Canada

time lapse video film Canada Photo Production

The Stunning Beauty of Timelapses

Posted on by Tristan

If you have ever seen a timelapse before, there’s a high chance that you were captivated by it or found it somewhat satisfying to look at. It lets us see the impossible or the very hard things to see in the real world. Timelapses are there to make us appreciate various aspects of movement from something as complicated and slow as construction of a building to the slow movements of a plant. 

Timelapse of 2 buildings being built!

How is a timelapse different from a regular video

A timelapse is very different from a video even though it’s just a very sped up video. It gives off a different mood and feeling when sped up. It can make the viewer feel a sense of dread if used in the right way, or perhaps it can be used to feel happy and excited. Timelapses should be used in specific scenarios, but when used correctly, can be an emotional rollercoaster. Timelapses let people see things they have never seen before. A still plant looks normal while a plant moving with purpose and a style can be interesting yet unfamiliar.

What is an appropriate timelapse

There are specific scenarios and times where a timelapse will really work. For a time lapse to be effective, something must be in constant motion. For example, a sunrise or sunset looks really good on a timelapse with the constant motion of the sun and the transition from day to night with natural and manmade lights. Another great example are plants growing. We never see how plants truly move since it’s so slow which is why it’s so fascinating to watch at high speed. 

Here is a good example of a timelapse about a plant growing over 1.5 years!

 

The amount of planning on one timelapse

To first film a timelapse, a lot of planning needs to be done such as the place and time of the shoot. Planning can be more difficult than you might think. First, you will need equipment. Batteries, a tripod, and a camera to get started. With the tripod, it has to be heavy and stabilized. Even a slight gust of wind and a slight shift in the angle would be enough to mess with the timelaps. At least one extra battery will be needed since there is a high chance that the current battery will die due to the amount of energy the camera will take up.

A timelapse also needs planning for the time it will take to film. Depending on the frames per second and how long you want your timelapse to be, it would take hours to film one. Some timelapses can even take a few days or months to get the footage. This is why it’s so important to bring extra batteries if the other battery dies.

 

What makes a timelapse so powerful

When watching a timelapse, you might think or feel something related to the subject of the timelapse. Specifically in story telling, the rapid visualization of things can give the feeling of dread or happiness. It feels familiar yet different. Take clouds for example, we see them in our everyday lives but only when they are moving slowly across the sky. In a timelapse, we get to see the transformation of the cloud and the direction of which it is headed. Another excellent example is construction. Even when our eyes can see a big building, we can only truly see the massive scale through the progress. It opens our eyes to see the big picture in anything and appreciating how beautiful something as simple as movement can be.


Watch as these clouds grow, shrink, and morph into different shapes!

 

 

Here is a great product for creating time lapse panorama videos:

 

360 Degree Panning Rotating Panorama Time Lapse Timer

Unleash Creativity with the Big City Magic 40w RGBWA Lighting Tube!

Posted on by Presil Roshan

The Big City Magic 40w RGBWA Lighting Tube is a must-have tool for any filmmaker, photographer, or event planner looking to create captivating lighting effects. With its versatility and remote control capabilities, you have the power to transform any scene into a work of art. Elevate your creativity and illuminate your world with the Big City Magic 40w RGBWA Lighting Tube!

Here is the comprehensive tutorial we’ve crafted to help you master the Big City Magic 40w RGBWA Lighting Tube, unlocking its full potential to create mesmerizing lighting effects for your films, events, and creative projects.

top 6 gadgets Big City Canada

Top 6 Big City Gadgets and Devices 2023

Posted on by Jane Good

What are the top 6 gadgets and devices at Big City Lights you might be asking yourself? The video below mentions all these fascinating products:

 

Number one: Multi-Colour LED Flame Bulb with App Control

  • With the wide variety of colours that is sound activated, this flame bulb could be used for any purpose.

LED Flame Bulb

Number two: 90 Second Smoke Grenade

  • Comes in many colours that could be used for film, photography, weddings, concerts and more.

 

scary smoke grenade bomb horror photo video Toronto

Number three: Electric Motorized Photography Slider/Dolly Car with Smart Phone Control

  • Great for panning and time lapse photography or video, all controlled through your smart phone.

 

Dolly Car

Number four: The Big City Magic RGBWA Film Lighting Tube

  • A powerful LED light that includes 9 special effects from police lights to candlelight. Perfect for photography or film with the added mood lighting.

 

Magic RGBWA Lighting Tube

Number five: Movie Directors Clapper Board with Dry Erase Surface

  • Used in filmmaking and video production for the director and editors.

 

Clapper Board

And lastly, number six: Dual Arm Pro LED Light with Cell Phone Holder and Remote

  • This light is could be used for cosmetics photography, social media influencer, and tattoo artists. Is adjustable and includes a cell phone holder.

 

Dual Arm Pro

Want to learn more about these interesting products? Take a look at the video for more information.

 

 

starburst LED beauty light star eyes Canada makeup lighting

LED Starburst Light

Posted on by Jane Good

Presenting the new LED Starburst Light! A new product that provides the best light quality for any shoot. Whether you are a make up artist, influencer, music video director, or photographer the LED Starburst light will make your content look fabulous.

The video below highlights the benefits of the LED Starburst Light, what’s in the box, and the different features that can be used.

The benefits include:

  • A high colour rendering index (CRI) of 97
  • Built in temperature protection circuit
  • And a cell phone holder that attaches to the light

Some handy features this light has are:

  • 6 angle adjustable light tubes
  • Adjustable colour temperature
  • And the light creates a star effect in the subjects eyes

Watch the video for a closer look on the LED Starburst Light.